by Laurie Merrill, USA TODAY Sports

by Laurie Merrill, USA TODAY Sports

Former major leaguer and Arizona Diamondbacks broadcaster Mark Grace, who appeared in court Thursday, pleaded guilty to endangerment and DUI, avoiding what could have been a lengthy prison sentence.

Instead, a judge imposed a four-month sentence that includes work-release jail time as well as three years of supervised probation. Additionally, an Interlock device must be installed in his vehicle for six months and he will need permission to travel out of state.

His work-release sentence begins Feb. 10. Grace will be allowed out of prison for work time. He was fired in August 2012 as a Diamondbacks broadcaster after his second DUI arrest in Scottsdale in 15 months.

Grace, who had 2,445 hits in a major league career that concluded in 2003 with the Diamondbacks, was charged with four counts of aggravated DUI that could have resulted in a three-year prison sentence. He pleaded not guilty in October.

Grace's attorney, Larry Kazan, has not responded to requests for comment.

Grace faced from one year to 45 months in prison on each count, Jerry Cobb, spokesman for Arizona's Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said recently.

Grace was arrested about 9 p.m. Aug. 23 after he was pulled over in Scottsdale.

Blood tests showed he had a blood-alcohol content of .095, which is above the legal limit of .08, Scottsdale police said.

Grace also was arrested May 30, 2011, and subsequently his license was suspended and he was required to have an Interlock device in his vehicle, police said. Charges against him include operating a vehicle with a suspended license and driving without a court-ordered interlock device.

Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall announced in October that Grace would not return to the broadcast booth.

In an interview with the Arizona Republic earlier this month, Grace said, "I have nobody to blame but myself."

"I did this," he said at the time.. "The Diamondbacks didn't do anything. I think it's important to own this. I own this."